Automatic ink-well



Patented May 19,1891.

W. G. PARSONS.

AUTOMATIC INK WELL.

(No Model.)

UNITED I STAT S PATENT OFFIcE.

\VILLIAM C. PARSONS, OF AKRON, OHIO.

AUTOMATIC INK-WELL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 452,481, dated May 19,1891.

Application filed May 29, 1890- Serial No. 353,604. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM G. PARSONS, of Akron, in the county ofSummit and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Automatic Inkells; and I do hereby declare the followingto be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such aswill enable others skilled in the art towhich itpertains to make and usethe same. I

My invention relates to improvements in automatic ink-wells; and itconsists in certain features of construction and in combination of partshereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims, the objectbeing-to provide a simple and inexpensive device connected with andincluding a stopper, so arranged that it may be applied to any ordinaryinkstand or ink-bottle, and that it may readily be changed from one inkstand or bottle to another.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation in sectionthrough'the center of the device. Fig. 2 is aview in perspective of thestopper and bulb detached. Fig. 3 is an elevation of the ink tube andfunnel detached.

A represents an ordinary ink bottle or inkstand.

B is a hollow inverted conical-shaped stopper, having on top a bulb B,preferably of the spheroidal form shown, the stopper and bulb beingpreferably of rubber.

O is a small tube terminating above in a small funnel c, this tube beinginserted with a snug fit in a hole at the top of the bulb, so that thetube will thereby be held in place and the top wall of the bulb Willmove up and down with the tube. The stopper, by reason of its length andtapering proportions, is adapted to fit about any ordinary inkstand orink-bottle, and I propose to make a largesized stopper adapted to fitinkstands or inkbottles having exceptionally large mouths. The stopperhaving been placed in the nozzle of the ink-container, the tube isadjusted vertically in the stopper in position with its lower end nearthe internal bottom of the container. Vith the parts thus adjusted, byinserting the pen in the funnel and bearing down gently, so as toslightly depress the tube, the upper wall of the bulb, by reason of itsiirnr grasp upon the tube, will also be depressed, wherebylhe air-spacein the bulb will be reduced, the result being the forcing of the ink upthrough the tube in contact with the pen, this principle being wellunderstood. On removing the pen the bulb by its elasticity regains itsnormal shape, whereby the tube is elevated and the inkin the tube isreturned to the container. As the ink from usingit becomes reduced involume in thecontainer, air in small quantities will from time to timepass down through the tube into the container to replenish the air-spacetherein, this airspace increasing inversely as the ink is extracted;hence the necessity of more air to prevent a partial vacuum. Also, thebulb may be compressed laterally with the hand, and the form of the bulbis such that the lateral compression thereof gives the bulb a morespherical form, whereby the air-space therein is increased, and thiswill draw air into the container through the tube. However, this isseldom necessary, for the device will usually regulate the air-supplyautomatically, a small quantity of air entering the container wit-h theupward movement of the tube when the pen is removed, as may be seen fromthe small bubbles in the container.

Heretof ore automatic ink-wells have usually been construct-ed with aninkstand of some peculiar form and constituting apart thereof, and thesedevices were usually quite expensive, whereas my improved device isquite inexpensive and may be applied to almost any inkstandorink-bottle. Forinstance, on buying a bottle of ink and removing thecork my improved device may be attached in a moment ready for work.There is no necessity of adjusting the ink-tube, except as the inkbecomes nearly exhausted in the container, and of course my improveddevice can in a moment be changed from one bottle or inkstand toanother. In case the upper wall of the bulb is so thin and light that itmight not grasp the tube with sufficient force so as to hold the latterfrom slipping, the tube may be provided with external annular grooves orribsfor instance, as shown at c, Fig. 3to prevent the tube fromslipping.

Both for convenience and for appearance the funnel should be located asclose as practicable to the bulb, in which case atube O, of

suliicient length to operatein a comparatively deep container, would betoo long for a shallow container, and hence I propose to use a shorttube C, such as would operate ina shallow container, and to the end ofthis tube I attach a flexible tube C, usually of rubber, so that acomparatively short tube 0, together with its flexible attachment, willoperate in any ordinary inkstand or inkbottle, with the furtheradvantage that, as the free end of tube C will always rest on the bottomof the container, the ink may be drawn therefrom so long as enough inkremains to cover the end of the flexible tube.

What I claim is 1. An automatic ink-well comprising an elastic hollowinverted conical-shaped stopperand connected bulb,thestopperbeingadaptedto fit containers having different-sized nozzles,and an ink tube and funnel, the tube being inserted in a hole in the topwall of the bulb, the engagement of the bulb and tube being such as tohold the latter in place and cause the en gaging members to movetogether, substantially as set forth.

2. In an ink-well, the combination, with an elastic hollow invertedconieal-shamd stopper and connected bulb, substantially as indicated, ofan inletube and connected funnel, the tube being inserted in a hole inthe top wall of the bulb, such tube having one or more annular groovesor ribs allowing adjustability and preventing the tube from slipping inthe bulb, substantially as set forth.

3. In an inkavell, the combination, with an elastic hollow invertedconical-shaped stopper and connected bulb, substantially as indicated,of an ink-tube and connected funnel, such ink-tube extending through ahole in the top wall of the bulb, the ink-tube having attached to thelower end thereof a flexible tube, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I sign this specification, in the presence of twowitnesses, this 10th day of May, 1890.

\VILLIAM C. PARSONS.

Witnesses:

F. M. ATIERHOLT, U. L. l\[ARUIN.

